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The annual Phi Ta Khon, or Ghost Festival, brings vibrant street processions and centuries-old spiritual traditions to Dan Sai, Thailand, on June 21, 2026.
The three-day event is deeply rooted in local folklore and a Buddhist tale about Vessantara Jataka, one of the Buddha's previous lives.
According to the legend, the prince had been presumed dead during a long journey, and his unexpected return sparked ecstatic celebrations.
The homecoming festivities were said to be so exuberant and loud that local spirits and the dead awoke to join the townspeople.
Residents meticulously craft oversized masks from coconut tree trunks and sticky rice steaming baskets.
Performers dance along the main roads, shaking handmade cowbells and talismans to ward off bad luck and summon seasonal rains.
The annual gathering blends ancient animist beliefs with Buddhist traditions, drawing thousands of international spectators to the Loei province.
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